Broiler



K. E. B EMIS BROILER Nav. 3, 1942.

Filed Feb. 7, 1941 f /farms? Patented Nov. 3;, 1942 pair STATE T Q FFICE 8 Claims.

This invention, a broiler, is a modification of the broiler covered by my Patent No. 2,232,203 issued Feb. 18, 1841, and in which the grids were formed of hair-pin shaped wires which were intended to lie flat on the range top while this ap plication covers a different type of grid which is formed of straight rods which during a broiling operation lie within grooves formed in the range top with the upper surfaces of the rods located just below the surface of the range top.

In the patent above-mentioned, the grids supported the meat out of direct contact with the range top and thereby the cooking operation was that of the customary vbroiling operation with the cooked meat having the normal appearance of the usual broiled steak. With this new arrangement of grid and range top, the markings on the steak are .reversed relative to those of the usual broiled steak. A highly delectable product results and the time of the cooking is considerably reduced.

The objects and advantages of the invention are as follows:

First; to provide a new type of range top in which parallel grooves are formed to receive the parallel rods of a grid, with the grooves terminating in spaced relation to the front edge of the range top, and with the range top and the grooves sloped toward the back to provide drainage for meat juices and grease.

Second; to provide a lifting grid with parallel rods horizontally disposed and spaced to lie within the grooves in the range top so as to permit the undersurface of a steak to be in direct contact with the areas of the range top between the grooves.

Third; to provide lifting means for the grid so that by lifting of the grid the steak being broiled will be lifted from the surface of the range top and supported by the grid in predetermined spaced relation to the surface of the range top for holding the heat in the meat until it is ready to be served.

In describing the invention reference will be made to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 illustrates a cleaning implement which is suitably adapted to cleaning of the grooves.

The invention consists of a range top H] which is indicated as sloping to the back and which terminates at the back in a gutter H which communicates with a drain [2 through which meat juices and greases are directed to a receptacle I3.

In the'top surface of the range top a plurality of parallel, equally spaced grooves. M are formed and which terminate .in spaced relation to the front edge is of the top as indicated at [-6, the front edges of the grooves being inclined toward the back. These grooves, in addition to'forming receivers for the grid, alsofunction as drain gutters for themeat juices and greases. A suitable burner i7 is used for heating the range top.

Formingapart of the range top and located rearwardly of the grooved portion is a plate heater [8 on which the plates on which the steaks are to be served are heated simultaneously with the brciling of the steak, and this heater has a combustion chamber l9 formed underneath in which a burner 20 is .mounted and which is individually adjustable so that the plates may be properly heated. It will be noted that the plate heater is located in aplane above the range top. This arrangement permits thorough cleaning of the-range top and locates the plates 2| in a convenient and readily accessible position.

The grid consists of a head bar 22 which is integral with a litter rod 23 and formed at right angles thereto, and a plurality of rods 24 have each one of their ends secured in the head bar and project forwardly therefrom, and are equally spaced and spaced on the same centers as the grooves M. The grooves 54 are of sufficient depth to permit the upper surfaces of the rods to lie in a plane below the surface of the range top. Any suitable means may be provided for lifting the grid, such as the arrangement disclosed in the previously-mentioned patent, or

manually, or-as illustrated in Fig.3, in which the lifter rod 23 is mounted in guides 25 with the upper end form-inga corefor a solenoid and operating within the solenoid 25 and which is automatically timed by any suitable timing device such as that disclosed in the previously mentioned patent or in my application Serial Number 356,138, filed September 10, 1940.

As illustrated, the dial 27 is adjustable to any of the elapse-time graduations 28 and which adjustment rotates the finger 29 counter-clockwise away from the switch 30, releasing the 7 switch 39 to open the circuit to the solenoid 26 permitting the grid to drop from the raised position shown in Fig. 3 to the lowered position shown in Fig. 2, and as the grid is lowered, the switch 3| is released to close the circuit through the motor 32 which starts a very slow rotation 01 the dial 21; the meat33 having previously been placed on the elevated grid is lowered onto the surface of the range top. The dial, adjusting means and motor are identical to the combination disclosed in the previously mentioned patent.

As the dial rotates, the finger 29 eventually reaches the switch 30 which it closes to complete circuit to the solenoid 26 which raises the grid and the meat in spaced relation to the top of the range as illustrated in Fig. 3. As the grid is raised, the lug 34 on the lifter rod cooperates with the switch 3 I, opening the switch and breaking the circuit to the motor. The meat is then turned on the grid, and the dial is reset which carries the cooking operation through the sec- 0nd cycle, and when the cycle is completed, the

switch 30 is again closed, energizing the solenoid, which raises the grid and the meat thereon, simultaneously breaking the circuit through the switch 34 to the motor 32, and holding the meat in slightly spaced relation above the range top to maintain its heat until it is ready to be served. When ready, the meat is placed on thehot plate 2 l, and the plate with the meat can be left on the plate heater in the event that the grid is required for broiling of another steak.

The grooves are easily cleaned by means of the scraper Fig. 4 which has a handle 35 and one or more scraper elements 36 which fit in the grooves. The scrapings as also any grease or meat juices are delivered into the gutter H and thence to the receptacle IS. The rods 24 are preferably cylindrical in form to facilitate Wiping and cleaning. Thus the rods and grooves are both rapidly and conveniently cleanable.

I claim:

1. A broiler, in combination, a range top having grooves formed therein in spaced relation, and a grid including a support and a plurality of rods projecting horizontally from said support and spaced to fit in said grooves, and a lifter rod for lifting said grid toa plane above said range top to lift meat supported on said range top out of cooking relation thereto; and heating means for said range top.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1; in which said grooves terminate in spaced relation to the front edge of said range top to prevent drainage of juices and greases over the front edge of the top; said grooves terminating at the rear end of the range top in a drain gutter for delivering waste products beyond the view of an observer.

3. A structure as defined in claim 1; in which said range top includes a drain gutter at the rear edge coincidently forming a recess for reception of said support when the grid is in its lowered position, and in which the grooves terminate in spaced relation to the front edge of the range top to prevent drainage of juices over said front edge; said grooves coincidently functioning as branch drain gutters in communication with said drain gutter.

4. A structure as defined in claim 1; in which said support consists of a horizontal bar with the rods projecting horizontally at right angles thereto, and in which said lifter rod is perpendicular to said support; and lifting means including manually adjustable timing means cooperatively related to said lifter bar for lifting said grid to a plane above said range top following the time elapse period for which said timing means is adjusted.

5. A structure as defined in claim 1, in which said lifter rod is slidably supported for vertical movement and terminates at its upper end in a magnetic core, a solenoid located about said core and a circuit therefor; a motor operated timing device and a motor therefor and a circuit for said motor, and means for manually setting the elapse time period of said timing device; a switch cooperatively related to said timing device and controlling energization of said solenoid for the completion of a cycle; and a switch cooperatively related to said lifter rod and opened thereby upon energization of said solenoid to break the circuit to said motor.

6. A broiler comprising; a range top having equally spaced parallel grooves formed in the top surface thereof and extending from a point in spaced relation to the front edge of the top, to the rear edge and terminating at the rear edge in a transverse drain gutter; heating means for said range top; a grid comprising a horizontal bar receivable in said transverse drain gutter and a plurality of rods projecting horizontally from said bar and at right angles thereto and freely fitting in said grooves; and lifting means associated with said grid for lifting said grid to a plane above said range top.

7. A structure as defined in claim 6, in which which lifting means comprises a rod afiixed to one end of said bar and projecting vertically therefrom; guides for said rod; and lifting means cooperatively related to said rod and including manually-adjustable timing means for lifting said rod and its associated grid to a plane above said range top following the elapse-time period of operation of said timing means.

8. A structure as defined in claim 6, in which said lifting means comprises a rod affixed to said bar and projecting vertically therefrom and including a solenoid core; guides for said rod; a solenoid associated with said core and a circuit for said solenoid and a switch for said circuit; timing means manually adjustable as to the timeelapse period of operation and cooperatively related to said switch and closing said switch at the completion of a cycle of operation of said timing means to energize said solenoid to lift said grid to a plane above said range top.

KENNETH E. BEMIS. 

